Emergency repair link



' Ndv. 5, 1929. R RQ'fl-l- 1,734,830 v EMERGENCY REPAIR LINK Filed March 1, 1928 loops,

. .20 high with respect Patented Nov. 5, 1 929 ROBERT n. ROTH, or THOMAS, wns'r vine n'ia EMERGENCY REPAIR LINK Application filed March 1, 192a. Serial K092555305,

This invention relates to improvements in emergency repair links of that type used for the purpose of rejoining the ends of broken cross chains of anti-skid tire chains, and more 5 particularly to improvements in that link of this type that comprises a body and open loops located at the ends of the body and having their free end portions extending inwardly beyond each other and arranged in parallel re- 10 lation to each other and to the body. hen

the loops of this link are closed, the free end portions thereof occupy angular posit-ions with respect to the body, the free terminals of the free end portions are positioned in the and one of the free end portions occupies an angular position with respect to the tread of the tire and with its free terminal next to the tread. While this link has been used in connection with anti-skid chains on pressure tires without puncturing the same, it is not adapted for use in connection with anti-skid chains on low pressure tires for the reason that the free terminal of that free end portion occupying an angular position to the tread of the tire would be forced in comparatively short time through the casing and inner tube of the tire. Furthermore, when this link is worn through the parts thereof remain attached to the ends of -30 the cross chain sections and can not be removed except by a special chain tool, and if they are not removed the cross chain sections must be removed from the side chains and a new cross chain substituted therefor.

The present invention has for one of its obects to improve ger of puncturing the same,

become automatically detached from the cross chain sections, and to attain these ends the in I ner with respect to each other and to the body as to cause them, when the loops are closed, to rest one upon the other in substantially parallel position with respect to the body and to the tread of the tire.

A further object of the invention is to prothis link to the end that it Y may be used on low pressure tires without danv to the end that a it may be more readily closed, and to the end v that when worn through the parts thereof will vide a link of the character stated which shall be also adapted to be used to connect the cross chains to the side chains. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature of which will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: I I Figure 1 is a sectional view taken one plane extending transversely through a pneumatic tire and anti-skid chain of which the latter is shown as having a cross chain repaired and connected to the side chainsby links embody. inginy invention, p I I M FigureQis a detail plan view ofthe link,

- V Figure 3 is a view inside elevation of the link, f I 2 Figure/i is a sectional view taken on the plane indicatedby theline 4-4 of Figure 2,v Figure 5 is a vieW illustrating the manner in which the loops of the link are closed, a

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on a plane extending transverselyv through the closed link, and 1 1 1 Figure 7 isa view illustrating the. manner in which the link is engaged with the cross and: side chains. v 1

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, 1 designates a pneumatic tire which is shown applied to the rim 2 of a wheel .3, and which is shown equipped with an antisk d chain comprising sideichains 4t and cross chains. ()nly one of the cross chains is illustrated, and such chain 5 is shown as having been broken or worn through and the sections phelreof connected together by my improved inx 6.

The link G'isn ade from a single piece of round Wire stock of hard carbon steel, and comprises a straight body 7 and loops 8. The loops 8 are located at the ends of the body 7, and embody arcuate portions 8 and straight free end portions 8". The end portions 8 extend inwardly beyond each other, and are together with the arcu'ate portions 8 arranged at an angle to. the body 7 and parallel to each other. The end portion 8 of each of the loops 8 extends to the arcuate portion 8 of the other loop, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

As the arcuate and straight end portions of the respective loops 8 are arranged in parallel planes located at an angle to the body 7, the link may be readily engaged with the broken'ends of a cross chain and then closed Without removing the anti-skid chain from the tire. The link may be closed by pressure exerted on the ends 8 during rotation of the wheel or through the medium of a tool such one another both when the link is open and closed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROBERT R. ROTH.

as the pliers 9 shown in the drawing, and dur- V ing this operation the end portions 8* of the loops 8 are moved in'the direction of each other. When the link is closed one of the end portions 8 rests upon the other, and both of said portions are in substantially parallel relation with the body 7 and the tread of the tire. Due to the length and to this arrangement of the end portions 8 theterminals' of saidportfions are positioned laterally beyond the center of the tread of thetire and there is 7 no possibility ofeither of said portions being the wear.

forced .into the tire, and owing thereto the link is adapted for use inconnection with anti-skid chains'applied to either low pressure or high pressure tires with all liability of the puncturing of the tires obviated. Furthermore, the relative arrangement of the ends 8 of the loops 8 and their'arrangeme'nt with respect to the body 7, permit the link to beread'ily closed, and thelengt-h of the end portions '8 provides the link with two wearing ,sur-

faces. WVhen the outer of said ends 8 wears beyond a predetermined degree, the other'end slightly turned, as shown in Figure 7. After being engaged with the cross and side chains, the links 6 are closed in the manner hereinbefore set forth. Due to their construction,

the links 6 are cheaper, lighter and more efficient than the means now employed to connect the side and cross chains, and may be more readily engaged with and removed from such chains.

WVhat is claimed is v A link of the character described, comprising'abody having loops extending from the opposite ends thereof, the material forming said body and'loops being-of uniform cross section, and said loops being in planes at other than right angles to one another and havlng ends in parallel-ism to and-overlying 

